732. The Plan Is Simple...
Clayton Skyshredder was a cautious person. As the Headmaster of Mavos Academy, he had no other choice. Every action he took, and every decision he made, it all had to be for the safety and betternt of his school.
There were tis where he was criticized for his decisions, such as during the war, when he refused to take action. And he was fine with receiving these verbal attacks. Because all that mattered to him was that he erred on the side of caution.
Then all would be well.
That was why he had chosen to lock up Rachel.
While both Oriur and Rachel herself had argued that it was a ridiculous imprisonnt, what the young girl was attempting to do was unprecedented. So Clayton did not know how to deal with it, and his solution was to not deal with it.
Perhaps once the siege of Mavos Academy was over, he would reconsider what Rachel was suggesting— that perhaps Centinels could be reasoned with. But as of right now, he would continue to keep the young girl locked up in his tower, as cruel of a punishnt it might seem.
Perhaps it was harsh. In fact, it was not sothing he wanted to even do. But for the safety of Mavos Academy, Clayton Skyshredder would do what was necessary.
Taking in a deep breath, the Headmaster of Mavos Academy ca to a halt before the room he had locked Rachel in. He dismissed the sense of guilt he felt, before he brought a hand up. With a flash of light, the barrier spell surrounding the room collapsed.
Clayton carried a tray of food and water with him as he pushed the door open.
“Here’s your dinner as you requested—”
He started as the door swung open. But then he paused. His eyes grew wide, and he dropped the tray of food to the ground. Stepping forward, he swept his gaze across the room. But his eyes didn’t deceive him.
The room was empty. Rachel was gone.
Clayton ran forward, before coming to a halt before the window.
“How…?”
He asked the question, then he paused. He caught a glimpse of a glint in the distance in the night sky. A golden glow that shone even from across Mavos Academy.
And Clayton gritted his teeth as he realized what had happened.
“Salvos.”
Shaking his head, Clayton Skyshredder focused himself.
“I need to stop them. Now.”
Before it was too late.
And with that, the Headmaster of Mavos Academy rushed out of the room to give chase to the two students who had given him the most troubles throughout the years.
It was a simple plan.
A stupid plan, perhaps.
But this was what Rachel had been working towards all this ti, right? And as long as Sally was here, everything should work out… fine?
Rachel didn’t know. But she had to do sothing. She had to try to work towards a permanent solution. Otherwise, after Sally freed her, she’d just be discovered wandering about freely by Clayton, before being thrown back into her prison again.
So Rachel took this extre risk, hoping it would pay off.
“Are you really sure about this?”
Sally asked as she flew forward with Rachel in her arms towards the magical do encapsulating Mavos Academy. The young girl just waved a hand dismissively.
“It’ll be fine… probably. I an, you’ve done crazier things in your life, right?”
“That wasn’t , that was Salvos! I’m Sally!”
The Salvos clone harrumphed, and Rachel pursed her lips.
“Sorry…”
It was still a bit difficult for Rachel to understand the distinction. As far as the young girl was aware, Sally was a Salvos clone. But sothing had happened since Salvos entered the Netherworld and left Sally alone here in the Mortal Realm which resulted in… this.
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In Sally having an identity of her own.
Rachel and Sally had discussed this a few tis before. But the two of them hadn’t really had the ti to talk about it in detail. It was just sothing Rachel tried to keep in mind, to not upset Sally.
However, Rachel always did want to ask Sally more about it. And while perhaps right now wasn’t the right mont, the young girl decided to ask her question anyway.
“I understand you’re not Salvos, Sally—”
“Correct! I’m Sally!”
Sally cheerfully replied, and Rachel nodded.
“But you’re a clone of Salvos, right?”
“Yep!”
“So if you’re a clone of Salvos, and you acknowledge you’re a clone of Salvos, why do you dislike being called Salvos? Because aren’t you two basically the sa person?”
Rachel raised a brow, glancing back for a mont at Sally. The Salvos clone paused for a mont in thought, then scoffed.
“I told you, I’m Sally, not Salvos!”
That was all Sally said. Rachel scratched the back of her head, before dropping the subject.
“I see…”
The two of them descended down to a figure waiting before the barrier. It was Oriur. He was sitting there worriedly. And when he saw the two of them approached, he imdiately perked up.
“Mama, you did it!”
Oriur exclaid, and Sally bead as she set Rachel down to the ground. But Rachel shook her head as she faced the juvenile Wyvern.
“It’s not over just yet. Once Clayton discovers that I’m gone…”
Rachel glanced back up towards the tower in the distance. She was expecting to see the familiar nimbus cloud carrying the Headmaster of Mavos Academy descending upon them at any mont.
“Sally and I will have to act now while we can. Before it’s too late.”
Rachel looked towards the barrier. At the other side waited the familiar faces of the Centinels that had always been in attendance to her storytelling sessions. They were all twitching in excitent from just seeing her. And she smiled when she caught a glimpse of a [Junior Centinel]— the very first one that she had befriended— standing all the way at the front, clicking its mandibles at her.
But then she swept her gaze past it and looked towards the [Ancient Centinel] who was waiting towards the back.
“We’ll need that one’s help.”
Rachel said as she pointed at the [Ancient Centinel]. Sally nodded and grabbed Rachel by the shoulders. Oriur blinked a few tis.
“Wait, what are you two doing? Is there anything I can do to help?”
“I—”
Rache opened her mouth to explain, but then her eyes flickered. She looked back once more and saw the familiar nimbus cloud shooting out of Clayton’s tower high above. Steeling herself, she gave the juvenile Wyvern a single instruction.
“I want you to wait here, Oriur. And if sothing goes wrong… I want you to rember that I at least tried my best.”
Rachel spoke simply. Oriur opened his mouth.
“Wait here? But what are you—”
But he was cut off by Clayton’s booming voice in the distance.
“Don’t you dare do this, Rachel—”
The Headmaster of Mavos Academy started. But Rachel looked towards Sally and nodded. And the Salvos clone just grinned as their body began to distort.
Before the two of them disappeared from where they were standing with a flash, leaving Oriur behind staring.
—--
To Rachel, not much seed to happen. All that happened was her surroundings changed, followed by a mont where she was disoriented. But as she steadied herself as Sally let go of her shoulders.
The Salvos clone was already tense and ready for action. She created a flaming scythe as she took in her surroundings. And Rachel couldn’t bla her. After all… they were both outside of the barrier right now.
Looking up, Rachel saw the faces of dozens of Centinels boring into her. Beyond them, she saw Oriur staring wide-eyed at her at the other side of the barrier. Clayton was landing next to the juvenile Wyvern, cursing and raising his blade at her.
But Rachel ignored them as she slowly turned around. And she ca face to face with the giant visage of an [Ancient Centinel].
It huffed out, its breath alone nearly knocking her off her feet. Sally imdiately moved to stand between the young girl and the giant monster. But Rachel steadied herself and stepped forward.
“No, let handle this.”
Rachel whispered as she slowly started forward. Sally hesitantly moved aside, watching the young girl inch closer towards the [Ancient Centinel]. It was massive. It had to be a thousand feet in length at the very minimum. Its mandibles alone were larger than even Rachel’s entire body.
But even still, Rachel showed no fear. Instead, she gently held a hand out and smiled. Because it was the sa [Ancient Centinel] that had been there to see her every day. And she knew it was just surprised to see her here at the other side of the barrier.
“You know, even though we’ve known each other for a while, I haven’t given you a na.”
Rachel whispered as she placed the palm of her hand on the [Ancient Centinel]’s mandibles. It tilted its head, and the young girl tapped a finger on her chin.
“How about Jero? You look like a Jero to !”
Rachel giggled as the [Ancient Centinel] drew its head back. It almost seed to consider this suggestion, before it nodded back at her.
From the side, Oriur and Clayton both watched this interaction in awe.
Rachel placed her hands on her hips as she grinned.
“So Jero it is.”
And the [Ancient Centinel]— Jero— lowered its head back towards her. And all around her, the other Centinels broke out into a susurration of clicking mandibles. They edged towards her, waving their bodies in the air.
Rachel laughed as she raised her hands placatingly towards them.
“I’m sorry, I can’t give you all nas right now. Maybe later. There is sothing I need to do at this mont, and only Jero can help .”
The young girl nodded towards Jero, before steeling herself. It tilted its head back at her. Sally tightened her grip around her scythe, wearing a serious look on her face. And from the other side of the barrier, Clayton and Oriur could only watch in horror, hearing what Rachel had to say.
“Jero— I want you to bring to your Matriarch. I want to talk to her.”
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